Anti-skip device-for aircraft landing gear



Oct. 22, 1957 F. c. ALBRIGHT 2,810,535

ANTI-SKIP DEVICE FOR AIRCRAFT LANDING GEAR Filed May 4, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

Byyyw ATTORNEY Oct. 22, 1957 F. c. ALBRIGHT 2,810,535

V ANTI-SKIP DEVICE FOR AIRCRAFT LANDING GEAR Filed May 4, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

FRANKLIN CALBE/GHT A 7: TOENEY Oct. 22, 1957 F. c. ALBRIGHT 2,810,535

ANTI-SKIP DEVICE FOR AIRCRAFT LANDING GEAR Filed May 4, 1.950 a SheetsSheet a INVENTOR.

United States Patent ANTI-'SKIP DEWCE FORATRCRAFT LANDING GEAR 7 Franklin C.-Albright;South-Bend,=Ind.,.assignor tuBendix Aviationcorporatiom sou'th Ben'd,.Ind., a corporation of Delaware -Applicatinn-May 4, 1950; Serial: No.5159g986 19 Claims. i(Cl. "244-104) craft, and in which the :shock: absorbingvaction-istobtained by a directtelescopingwconnectmn betweentamwheel-tcarryinglower-strut element and an uppersstrut-trelement tsecured to the body of the aircraft.

One advantage ofthe swingback landing gear isathe elimination of bending harden the shockabsorber. ;The action-oftheashock absorberis smoother-:and more-teem sistent because its operation is snot subject "to -varying amounts of mechanical friction induced by bending strains. Furthermore, in a swing back landing gear, drag loadsuare introducedinto the shockabsorber, instead of being applied at right angles to the:shockeabsorher element, as inthe conventional shockstrut. An-improve 'ment in the riding qualities of the aircrafttduringtaxying results from the smoother action of .the shockaabsorber and from theiabsorption of'drag loads.

An inherent'problem-in the swing hack;landing;gcar is its tendency to"skip,owing-to defiectionaunder braking drag. The telescoping -movement"of the :shock :a.bsorber under drag load is idesirable when theWhc'elsisx-mot being braked, butduring brakinga its-.eifcct1is-zlikelyrto rbe detrimental. As the brake is applied a :dra'grload isicdeveloped, which tends to cause the wheel to s-wing upward, thereby reducing the=vertica1 load. :Reductionmfathe vertical load momentarily reduces the;frictional'actionof the ground on the wheel, therebytending to causeskidding. When the force tending to .cornpress-zt-hemshock absorber is temporarily reduced, or eliminated, the-resilient': shock absorber abruptly forcesthe wheel back intosengagement with the ground. The on-and-oif pulsating actionoftthe shock absorber and brake maylead tona walkingfwor skippingftendency of the aircraft, "due-.to alternating wheel-lifting movements, occurring first on one side of the aircraft and then on theother.

The primary object of thepresent invention is'to provide a "device which tends to eliminatethe"skipping action of -a swing back landi-n'g'gear. Broadly speaking, I propose to obtain'the desired resultby varyingthe resistance of the shock absorber in accordance Withthe effectiveness-of the brake. 'More specifica1ly,I propose to subject a pressure responsive member*to"a-"pressure proportional to the brake applying pressure, "and to cause the effective size of a shock-absorber orifice'to-be-reduced 'byrmovement of-sai'd member under pressure.

ice

Theaboveaan'd other. objects and featureslof' theinven- -.t-ion will appear more fully hereinafter from a. consideralion. of the followingdescript-ion, takenain connection with rthenaccompanying drawings, =wherein a pluralityof em- ;bodiments ,of =.the vinvention are illustrated, by :way .of .example. Imthe drawings: t

Figure 1 is a side elevation .showingr-thegeneral"outflxline :of ran waircraft ,landing gear which incorporates. my

invent-ion; V

Figure 2 .is--va' sectional view showing the:.internal:conastruction ofsthe ,shock absorber usedinthedanding gear of Figure 1;

Figure 3 .is' a side elevation; showing .the incorporation ofatheishock absorberofi-Eigure :2xin a landing gear differingasomewhats from thev landing ge-ar'iof Figure .-1 ;Pand

:Figure =4: is a sectional viewshowing the arrangement-10f 1the shock: absorber .of' Figure :2 in-.a .wheeland brakeaassembly.

The .landirrg gear construction-i11ustratedin--Figure 1 is .similarmto that shown vand claimed 1 in my application eseri-al No."1-27,-937, filed November 17, 'l*949,.now-tPatent t-Noa2,568;696, the entire working structure of the. energy- ;dis'sipating mechanism, includinguboth the shocki-abso'rber -and the structural means :for causing atel-escoping move- :ment of .the :shock :absorberparts, being located within :the -.co1rfines.of the-wheel assembly.

As shown: in Figure .1, astrut- 1-2, which :extendsadowniward; fromathezlbody of the ;aircraft,ehas ;at: its .zlowenend aia laterallyrextendingnonrotatable arde 14. ,aAtlargeadiamveter wheehsupporting hub 1%16xis apivotally amounted Eon :axle.'14,"the-:pivota1 center 15 of the'hubonthaaxlerbeing zabove andr-ahead of the axis of ttheihub. zTwo taxially- :spacedr large-diameter bearings .18 ;.are :supported :on :the

meriphery of :thehub, and a wheel oragroundeengaging .eeleme-nt 20, carrying a the 22, ;is rrotatablyamountedson ;-;the :bearings.

eA: shock i absorber 24 is mounted sinside' 'ihubllfi. The shock absorber comprises two telescopically associated .crnembers z26sand ;28,uan'd' anaddiiionalfmemberi litl;which s-may Ebb .formed as a lateral sextension of "the V casing --of ,wmember428, aszshown. Shock absorber member 26 is :pivotally:connectedatqSZ to warm 34, whi'ch is:non- :rotatably esecured 1 to .axle 3141. Shock absorber -mem'ber 128.:iszpivotallyconnected :atQ36 tO hub-=16.

The-shock absorberi24tabsorbs or' dissipates the energy vproducedi'byaeither a "vertical or aft: force; or anycombi- "Lllfitl'OH'iOfT-IhfiSfiEfOI'GCS, when applied to the tire 22. Since :forward movement of the aircraft corresponds to 'move- :mentitoward theleft in Figure 1,' the wheel isa"-trailing," :or "iswing' hack, wheel. .Eithera-n aft-"force F or averti- LCQIFfOICB willucause 'theaxis, or center, efhu-b 16 to :IIIOVB inzan'zarcsaboutcenter poi-nt'15. During this move- :mentrcif the hub, pivot point'32 at one end'of the shock absorber :remains stationary, an'd-pivot point 36 'at'tthe .other-endofthe shock absorber moves wit-hthdhub in an :arc acentered :at :15, thus shortening the shockabsorber amdertthewinfluence: of the fierce acting'on-the tire.

A brake assembly 37 is mounted inside :the'hub "16. The brake, which is preferablya-disk brake operated either by hydraulic pressure 0r-"by' air pressure, is located between the'bearings 1'8 and theshock absorber 24. Flu so'therwofds, the brake assembly encircles the shock ab- -sorber,=and*isencircled by the bearings. -A conduit38 connects the source ofbrake applying pressure, located inthe'i-bo'dy-ofthe aircraft,'to the brake actuator'inlet .40. Conduit 38,is"also connected'to'aniinlet 42,providerl.in the'upper end of'member30 of the "shockabsorber. The "reason for connecting the brake pressure, line to the shock-absorber will become apparentHas 't-he,,description "progresses.

"As shown indetail in Figure *2, the shock absorber end of the metering pin, as shown.

unit has two cylindrical bores 44 and 46, which may be formed on parallel axes in a single casing. A piston member 48 is reciprocable in bore 44, said piston member and the portion of the casing in which itreciprocates constituting a telescopic shock absorber which shortens as the wheel moves rearward and upward about the pivotal center 15. As the shock absorber shortens, piston member 48 moves into chamber 50, reducing the volume of the chamber and forcing liquid (with which chamber 50 is filled) through the outlet or metering orifice 52. As the liquid is forced through the metering orifice, the energy tending to compress the shock absorber is gradually dissipated, inthe conventional manner. If necessary, a metering pin 54 may cooperate with the orifice 52 to vary the resistance of the shock absorber in accordancewith the amount of telescoping movement.

Since chamber 56, which is formed inside member 26, is also filled with liquid, the liquid forced through orifice 52'moves through passages 58 in piston member 48 and opening 60 in the wall between bores 44 and 46. With the members in the relative positions shown, flow is from passages 58 to opening 60 through an annular groove 59, radial passages 61 and annular groove 63 in spacer ring 65. It should be noted that as piston member 48 moves into chamber 50, an elongated annular spacing is formed between the outside wall of member26 and the periphery of bore 44. This spacing will necessarily be in communication with groove 63 and passage 61 and will, therefore,

fill with fluid as the unit shortens in length. A fixed plug member 62 closes the open end of bore 46, and provides a passage 64 which communicates with opening 60. The

fixed plug member 62 also has a metering orifice 66,

1 through which liquid flows after traversing passages 58,

' tended position after its compression stroke has been completed.

The effective size of metering orifice 66 is controlled by a substantially tapered metering pin 74, which is reciprocably mounted in the center of plug member 62 in such a way that the end of the metering pin can enter the orifice to reduce the opening. The metering pin is causing a reduction in the effective size of the orifice, and an increase in the resistance of the orifice to flow of liquid in the shock absorber.

With this arrangement, the shock absorber is automatically made stiffer, i. e. its ability to shorten is restricted, whenever brake applying pressure is exerted.

Ground drag resulting from application of the brakes is thus resisted more strongly when it tends to compress the shock absorber. In this manner, any tendency of the wheel to skip is efiectively counteracted. Complete prevention of the skipping tendency can be insured by proper choice of the relative sizes of orifice 66, metering pin 74, and piston 76, for a given installation.

In cases where metering pin 54 is not needed, the metering device 66-74 can be included in the main portion of the shock absorber (i. e. in member 26), provided the available space is adequate. Furthermore, in some instances, it would be possible to dispense with the orifice 52, and accomplish the entire function with a single orifice and metering pin (or other orifice-controlling device).

Figure 3 shows the incorporation of my anti-skip" shock absorber in a swing back landing gear in which the shock absorber is not mounted inside the hub of the wheel. In this arrangement, the same shock absorber construction is shown, piston member 26 being pivotally connected at 84 to a strut 86, and cylinder member 2-3 being pivotally connected at 88 to an arm 90 formed on a wheel-carrying lever member 92. Lever member 92 is pivotally connected at 94 to the lower end of strut 86. The brake pressure line 96 is connected to the brake actuator by inlet fitting 98, and to the auxiliary portion 39 of the shock absorber by inlet fitting 109. Operation of the shock absorber in this environment is substantially the same as its operation in the structure of Figure 1;

Although certain particular embodiments of my invention have been described, it will be understood by those arranged to swing back under load, and a fluid presadapted to be urged toward the orifice by pressure acting on a piston or actuator 76, which may be secured to the Piston 76 is urged toward the orifice whenever fluid under pressure enters chamber 78 from the brake pressure line 38. A spring 80 tends to hold piston 76 and metering pin 74 in retracted position, with the piston in engagement with cap 82.

' are not being applied (i. e., normally), is the smaller of the two orifices, and accounts for substantially all of the energy-dissipating effect. Thus metering pin 54 and orifice 52 cooperate to provide the desired shock absorber effect when the aircraft lands, and the spring in chamber 72 provides the desired cushioning effect during taxying.

Whenever pressure is applied to the brake associated with wheel 20, the same unit pressure is transmitted to chamber 78, developing a force on piston 76 proportional to the brake applying force. The force on piston 76 tends to move metering pin 74 toward orifice 66, acting against the resistance of spring 80. The amount of movesure operated brake associated with the ground-engaging element; a device for opposing swing back movement of the ground-engaging element comprising a casing having two parallel cylindrical bores, a piston member reciprocable in the first bore, said piston member and the portion of said casing in which it reciprocates constituting a telescopic shock absorber which shortens as the ground-engaging element swings back, one end of the shock absorber being pivotally connected to the strut and the other end of the shock absorber being pivotally connected to the ground-engaging element, said shock absorber having a absorber in accordance with the amount of telescoping movement, a fixed member in the second bore having a metering orifice which communicates with the first metering orifice so that theliquid must be displaced through both orifices, a second metering pin associated with the I second metering orifice and arranged to reduce the efiective area of said orifice as the pin is moved in a given direction,

I a piston operatively connected to the second metering pin ment of the metering pin depends upon the severity of the brake applying pressure. As the brake pressure is int creased themetering pin is moved toward the 0rifie,

and acted on by a pressure proportional to the pressure acting on the brake, the piston being urged in the orificereducing direction as the brake pressure increases, a spring arranged to resist orifice-reducing movement of the piston,

metered through the two orifices, and a spring resisting nrovement ofethe'fioating' piston caused'by t-hepressure of said metered liquid.

22. 'For use in an aircraftlandinggear comprising -a strut adapted to be connectedeatits upper end to the body'of the aircraft, a ground-engaging element which is' pivotally supported on the lower end of the -strut =aridwhich-is ar-ranged to swing back under-load, and a fluid pressure operated brake-associated with the ground-engaging element; a device for opposing swing' baek*-movement-' of the ground-engaging element comprising a'casing'having' two cylindrical bores, a piston member reciprocable in me first bore, saidpiston member-and the portion of said casing in which it reciprocates constituting a-itelescopic shock absorber which shortens as the ground-engaging 1 element swings 1 back,'*oneend of the shock absorber being pivotally: connected to the-strut and the other end of the *shockabsorber being pivotally connected to .the ground-engaging element, said s-ho'ck abso'rber "having a -metering orifice through which liquid-is forced when=t-he shock absorber is shortened, a fixed-memberi-n the second bore having a metering orifice which 'communicates with the' first metering orifice so that the liquid must be'dis- I placed through both' orifices,=a metering pin associated -withthe second metering orifice an'd arranged'to reduce the effective area of said orifice as the-pinis moved'in a givendirection, a piston operatively'connectedto the metering pin and acted on by a pressure'proportionalto 'the pressure acting on the brake, the-piston being-urged in the-orifice-reducing direction -as-the -'brake 'pressure increases, a spring .arranged to resist orifice redueing movement of the'rpiston, a floating piston in the second bore acted .on by the liquid meteredthrough'the two orifices, and aspring"resisting-movement of the floating t piston caused by pressure of said metereddiquid.

3. 'For use in an aircraft landing gear comprisinga strut adapted to be connected atits upperen'd'tothe body of the aircraft, aground-engagingelement which is pivotally supported on the'lower end of the strut and which is arranged to swing back under load," anda'fluid pressure operated brake associated with the ground-engaging element; a device for opposing swing back move- :ment of the ground-engaging element comprising-awas- -ing having a cylindrical bore, a piston member reciprocable in the bore, said piston member andsaid casing constituting a telescopic shock absorberwhich shortens as the ground-engagingelement swings back,"one'end of the shock absorber being pivotally connected'to the and the other end of theshock absorberbeing pivotally connected to the ground-engaging element, said shock absorber having a metering orifice'throu'gh' which 'liquid is forced 'when'the shock absorber' is'shortened, a member providing a second metering orifice which com- 'municates with the'first metering orifice'so thatthe' liquid must be displaced through both orifices, a metering pin associated" with the secondmetering orificean'd arranged to "reduce the effective area" of said orifice as'thepin is moved in a given 'direction, a'piston operatively .connected to the metering pin and acted on by agpressure proportional to the pressure acting on the brake; the piston being urged in the orifice-reducing direction as th'elbrake pressure increases, a spring arranged to resist orifice- Teducing movement; of the piston,a pressure responsive member carried within said casing tobe acted'upon 'by the liquid metered through the two orifices, and a spring resistingmovernent of the pressure responsive'rnember caused by pressure of said metered liquid.

4. For use in an aircraft landing gear-'comprisinga strut adapted to be connected at its upper end to the body of the aircraft, a ground-engaging element which is pivot- -ally supported on the lower end of the strut and which is arranged to swing back under load, and a fiuidpres sure operated brake :associated withthe ground-engaging element; a device for opposing swingback movement not the ground-engagingelement-comprising a telescoping shock absorber which shortens as theground-engaging ground-engagingelement;said shock absorber having a metei=ing brifice 'throu'gh whitzh liquid is 1 forced when 1 the shock absorber isshortened; a memberprovi'ding a second ing orifice so that the liquid must be kiisplaced through -bdth or ifices} a metering pin- -associ:1ted-with the second metering orifice and arranged to reduce the etfective-area of said orifice as the pin is moved inua given- 'direction, a piston operativ'ely connected to L'the i metering pin and acte'dcon by -a-" pressure proportional-to the pressure acting ymcnt, said shock absorber having a meter-ing orifice throughwhich liquid=is forced, a secorid' metering orifice ing 'fdirection -as f the brake pressure 5 increases, a 4 spring arranged to resi'st orifice=reducing movement of the piston, --a floating 1 piston carried' within said casing to' be acted upon by the -liquid metered' t-hrough the -two 'or ificesgand .=a*spring- 'resisting movement ofiethe fioating piston caused by pressuresofi'said metered liquid.

5.- For use in arr-"aircraft landing gear comprising a =ground 'engaging element which is pivotally supported on the lowereuddf the' la-nding-gearand'vvhich is arranged to swing back urider' load and a fluid pressure operated brake assoc-iate'd -with the ground-engaging element; a 'device J for -opposi-ng Swinghak movement of --the grourid-engaging' element comprisinga telescoping: shock absorber, one end-of which is adapted to be pivotally connected to -a-partof -the; aircraft and-the other -end -of whichis pivotally connected to t-he ground=engagingelewhich communicates with -the -first -mete-ring 'orifice 'so :that Y the liquidcrnust be "displaced-throughboth orifices, a metering pin associated with the second metering orifice and arranged to :reduce the effective area of i saidorifice as the-pin'is movedin a given 'direction,--a piston operat-ively connected to the metering pin and acted on I by a 1 pressure proportional to the pressure acting'on the brake, thepiston being urged in r the orifice-reducing "direct-ion as the brake pressure'increases, and resilient means for storing the: energyof the metered liquid.

'6. For use in an aircraft landing gear'cornprising a ground-engaging element -which-is= pivotally supported on the lower 'end of the landing gear and which is arranged' to arranged to move intoan'd out ofone of saidmetering orifices, said pin being substantially tapered in form'to reduce the efiectivesize of said one orifice as't-hepin is: moved therein, a. pressure responsive member opera- .tivelytconnectedto the metering-pin and -aetedon by a pressure proportional to thepressure acting on the brake, the pressure :responsive member being urged-in the'orificereducing direction as the brake pressure increases, and resilient-means for storing theenergyofdhe:metered liquid.

7. Forum in an aircraft-landinggear comprisingza ground-engaging element which is arranged "to swing back under load, and a fluid pressure operated brake associated with the ground-engaging element; azdevice for opposing swing back movement of .the groundengaging element comprising-a telescoping shock -1absorber, one end of which is adapted to'beapivotally connectedto apart of the aircraft and the other end of which is pivotally connected toxthe;:groundengagingelement, said SShOCk absorber: having aapairvof metering orifices through :wbich;liquidiisxforcedga substantially tapered,

-- metering pin associated with one of said metering orifices pressure responsive member operatively connected to the metering pin and acted on by a pressure proportional .to the pressure acting on the brake, the pressure responsive member being urged in the orifice-reducing direction as the brake pressure increases.

8. For use in an aircraft landing gear comprising a ground-engaging element which is arranged to' swing back under load, and a fluid pressure operated brake associated with the ground-engaging element; a device for opposing swing back movement of Y the groundengaging element comprising a telescoping shock absorber, one end of which is adapted to be pivotally connected to a part of the aircraft and the other end of which is pivotally connected to the ground-engaging element, said shock absorber having a first and second metering orifice through which-liquid is successively forced, a substantially tapered metering pin associated with the second metering orifice and arranged to reduce the effective area of said second orifice' as the pin is moved in a given direction, and a pressure responsive member operatively connected to the metering pin and acted on by a pressure proportional to the pressure acting on the brake, the pressure responsive member and metering pin being urged in the orifice-reducing direction to reduce the eifective area of said second orifice in proportion to the degree of brake pressure applied.

9. For use in an aircraft landing gear comprising a ground-engaging element which is arranged to swing back under load, and a fluid pressure operated brake associated with the ground-engaging element; a shock absorber having a pair of communicating orifices through which fluid is forced, a metering pin associated with one of said meteringorifices and arranged to reduce the effective area of said one orifice as the pin is moved in a given direction, and a pressure responsive member operatively connected to said metering pin and acted on by a pressure proportional to the pressure acting on the brake, the pressure responsive member being urged in the orificereducing direction as the brake pressure increases.

10. For use in an aircraft landing gear comprising a ground-engaging element which is arranged to swing back under load, and a fluid pressure operated brake associated with the ground-engaging element; a shock absorber having a pair of communicating orifices through which fluid is forced, and a pressure responsive member operably extending into one of said orifices, said member being acted on by a pressure proportional to the pressure acting on the brake to reduce the effective area of said one orifice as the brake pressure increases.

11. For use in an aircraft landing gear having a groundengaging element and a brake associated with the groundengaging element, a shock absorber having a pair of communicating orifices through which fluid is forced, one of said orifices being larger than the other during release of said brake, and a member operably extending into said one orifice, said member being acted on by a force proportional to the force acting on the brake to reduce the effective area of the orifice as the brake effectiveness increases.

12. A shock absorber having first and second communicating orifices through which fluid is successively forced, one of said orifices being normally larger than the other, a metering pin associated with the normally larger orifice and arranged to reduce the effective area of said normally larger orifice as the pin is moved in a given direction, and a fluid pressure responsive member operatively connected to the metering pin and acted on by a fluid pressure proportional to a brake-actuating pressure to urge the metering pin in the orifice-reducing direction as the brake pressure increases.

13. A shock absorber having first and second corn- ,municating orifices through which fluid is successively forced, one of said orifices normally having a larger effective area than the other of said orifices, and a fluid pressure responsive member actedon by a fluid pressure proportional to a brake-actuating fluid pressure and operably associated with said larger orifice in such away as to control its said efiective area.

14. For use in an aricraft landing gear comprising a strut adapted to be connected at its upper end to a part of the aircraft, a ground-engaging element which is pivotally supported on the lower end of the strut and which is arranged to swing back under load, and a brake associated with the ground-engaging element; a device for opposing .swing back movement of the ground-engaging elementcornprising a casing having two cylindrical bores, a piston member reciprocable in the first bore, said piston member andthe portion of said casing in which it reciprocates constituting a telescopic shock absorber which shortens as the ground-engaging element'swings back, one end of the shock absorber being pivotally connected to the strut and the other end of the shock absorber being pivotally connected to the ground-engaging element, said shock absorber having a metering orifice through which liquid is forced when the shock absorber is shortened, a fixed member in the second bore having a metering orifice which communicates with the first metering orifice so that the liquid must be displaced through both orifices, a metering pin associated with the second metering orifice and arranged to reduce the size of said orifice as the pin is moved in a given direction, an actuator operatively connected to the metering pin and acted on by a force proportional to the force acting on the brake, the actuator being urged in the orifice-reducing direction as the brake force increases, a spring which resists orificereducing movement of the actuator, a floating piston in the-second bore acted on by the liquid metered through the two orifices, and a spring resisting movement of the floating piston caused by pressure of said metered liquid.

15. For use in an aircraft landing gear comprising a ground-engaging element which is pivotally supported on the lower end of the landing gear and which is arranged to swing back under load, and a brake associated with the ground-engaging element; a device for opposing swing back movement of the ground-engaging element comprising a telescopic shock absorber, one end of which is adapted to be pivotally connected to a part of the aircraft and the other end of which is pivotally connected to the ground-engaging element, said shock absorber having a metering orifice through which liquid is forced, a second metering orifice which communicates with the first metering orifice so that the liquid must be displaced through both orifices, a metering pin associated with the second metering orifice and arranged to reduce the size of said orifice as the pin is moved in a given direction, an actuator operatively connected to the metering pin and acted on by a force proportional to the force acting on the brake, the actuator being urged in the orificereducing direction as the brake force increases, a spring which resists orifice-reducing movement of the actuator, and resilient means for storing the energy of the metered liquid.

16. A variable resistance shock absorber having first and second communicating orifices through which fluid is successively forced, one of saidorifices being normally larger than the other, and a fluid pressure responsive member which controls the orifice area of said normally larger orifice, said fluid pressure responsive member being actuated by the same fluid pressure which applies a brake.

created as a result of fluid flow through said passage, cushioning means acting on said member in opposition to the aforesaid pressures, a valve device arranged to control the communication of said pressures to said second chamber by varying the size of said second orifice, means urging said valve device in a direction to provide unrestricted communication through said second orifice, and a second pressure responsive movable member operatively connected to said valve device whereby operation of said second member will result in a variation in size of said second orifice.

18. A shock absorbing device comprising two telescopically arranged elements which define a variable volume chamber therebetween, a second variable volume chamber, a passage communicating said chambers, a first orifice in the passage, a second orifice in the passage normally having a greater effective area than said first orifice, a pressure responsive movable member carried within said second chamber and responsive to pressures created as a result of fluid flow through said passage, a valve device arranged to control the communication of said pressures to said second chamber by varying the size of said second orifice, means urging said valve device in a direction to provide unrestricted communication through said second orifice to said second chamber, and a second pressure responsive movable member operatively connected to said valve device whereby operation of said second member will result in a variation of the size of said second orifice.

19. For use with an aircraft landing gear having a ground-engaging element and a fluid pressure operated 10 braking system associated with the ground-engaging element, a shock absorber having a first metering orifice through which fluid is forced, a second metering orifice in communication with said first orifice, means associated with said braking system for reducing the effective area of only one of said orifices upon application of fluid pressure to said system, and resilient means for storing the energy of the fluid passing through said orifices.

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